FamilyCalendar

experience where you’ll witness the magic of lanterns as they light up the water. Tickets are on sale for the Water Lantern Festival in Montgomery. waterlanternfestival.com

Wednesday, June 14

Creekwalk Concerts (FREE)

6:30PM Heritage Park, 228 S Court St Prattville, AL, 36067 Bring a blanket or a lawn chair. (334) 595.0850 prattvilleal.gov

Friday, June 16

Friday on the Green (FREE)

6:30PM - 8:30PM, Russell Crossroads, 19 Russell Farms Roads Alexander City , AL, 35010 Bama Sound Trio featuring Cameron Dubois. Grab your comfy stuff and leash for the pup, then come out for a great time with the fam, friends, and really cool tunes! See you Friday, On The Green!

(256) 397.1019 russellcrossroads.com/events.html

The Capri Theater presents The Master Gardner

The Capri Theatre, 1045 East Fairview Avenue

Montgomery, AL, 36106 A meticulous horticulturist is devoted to tending the grounds of a beautiful estate owned by a wealthy dowager. When he’s told to take on her troubled great-niece as an apprentice, his life is thrown into chaos and dark secrets from his past emerge.

(334) 262.4858 capritheatre.org

Saturday, June 17

Farmers Market at Eastchase (FREE)

7AM - 12PM, Eastchase, near Sephora, 7274 Eastchase Pkwy Montgomery, AL, 36117 This year is going to be bigger and better than ever with all of your favorite vendors and some fun, new vendors!

(334) 279.6406 theshoppesateastchase.com

Farmers Market

7AM - 12PM, On the Grove, Doster Road Prattville, AL, 36067 Join the City of Prattville for the Prattville Farmers Market every Saturday through August 26. The market will feature fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, along with local honey, homemade baked goods, jams, jellies, eggs, handmade bath and body products, plants and more!

(334) 595.0850 prattvilleal.gov

Art Walk

10AM - 4PM, Sweetie B’s Arms Foundation, 2868 Zelda Road Montgomery, AL, 36106 Cultural Art Walk (334) 392.7363 sweetiebsarmsfoundation.com

World Giraffe Day, Conservation Event 10AM - 2PM, Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Pkwy Montgomery, AL, 36110 Celebrate the longest-necked animal at the Montgomery Zoo, and on the planet.

(334) 625.4900 montgomerzoo.com

2023 Juneteenth Celebration

2PM - 6PM, Riverwalk Amphitheater, 355 Coosa St. Montgomery Entertainment, Food Trucks, Vendors, Kids Zone, Educational Presentations & Art Exhibits!

Featuring music entertainment by 2nd Coming. (334) 625.2118 montgomeryal.gov

Sunday, June 18

Father’s Day at the Montgomery Zoo

9AM - 4PM, Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Pkwy Montgomery, AL, 36110 All Dads receive FREE admis- sion to the Montgomery Zoo and the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum. Join us for Dad’s special day. (334) 625.4900 montgomerzoo.com

Friday, June 23

Friday on the Green (FREE)

6:30PM - 8:30PM, Russell Crossroads, 19 Russell Farms Roads Alexander City , AL, 35010 Featuring Russell Craig. Grab your comfy stuff and leash for the pup, then come out for a great time with the fam, friends, and really cool tunes! See you Friday, On The Green!

(256) 397.1019 russellcrossroads.com/events.html

Saturday, June 24

Eastchase Farmer’s Market Celebration (FREE)

7AM - 12PM, Eastchase, near Sephora, 7274 Eastchase Pkwy Montgomery, AL, 36117 The market will be located near Sephora and H&M. This year is going to be bigger and better than ever with all of your favorite vendors and some fun, new vendors! Join us every last Saturday of the month for a Farmers Market celebration! Enjoy even more vendors and a HUGE Garden Cart Giveaway!

(334) 279.6406 theshoppesateastchase.com

Farmers Market

7AM - 12PM, On the Grove, Doster Road Prattville, AL, 36067 Join the City of Prattville for the Prattville Farmers Market every Saturday through August 26. The market will feature fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, along with local honey, homemade baked goods, jams, jellies, eggs, handmade bath and body products, plants and more!

(334) 595.0850 prattvilleal.gov

Farmhouse Luau

10AM - 6PM, Lil’ Farmhouse Market, 837 Old US Highway 231 Wetumpka, AL, 36092 Join us for our summer luau event. We will have vendors, games, door prizes, food, and music! You won’t want to miss this! We can’t wait to see you! lilfarmhousemarket.com

Peach Jam Jubilee

11AM Clanton City Park, 510 Park Dr Clanton, AL Peach Jam Jubilee is a free outdoor festival featuring live music from country’s greatest artists along with arts and craft vendors, food trucks, inflatables, hot air balloon rides and so much more! You’ll find something for the entire family at this one day event celebrating Chilton County’s peach crop and farmers. (205) 755.2400 peachjamjubilee.com

Wednesday, June 28

Creekwalk Concerts (FREE)

6:30PM Heritage Park, 228 S Court St Prattville, AL, 36067 Bring a blanket or a lawn chair. (334) 595.0850 prattvilleal.gov

Thursday, June 29

Summer Fest (FREE)

6PM - 9:30PM, Pike Road Agriculture, Recreation & Performing Arts Park , 6281 Trotman Road Montgomery, AL, 36116 The Town of Pike Road is excited to invite the community to SummerFest, a family-friendly fireworks show on June 29 at the Pike Road Agriculture, Recreation & Performing Arts Park pikeroad.us

Friday, June 30

Friday on the Green (FREE)

6:30PM - 8:30PM, Russell Crossroads, 19 Russell Farms Roads Alexander City , AL, 35010 Featuring Jonathan Bloom. Grab your comfy stuff and leash for the pup, then come out for a great time with the fam, friends, and really cool tunes! See you Friday, On The Green! (256) 397.1019 russellcrossroads.com/events.html

Saturday, July 1

Arti Gras (FREE)

9AM - 4PM, Russell Crossroads, 19 Russell Farms Roads Alexander City , AL, 35010 The twelfth annual Arti Gras will be held Saturday, July 1st, and Sunday, July 2nd on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads. The twelfth annual Arti Gras will be held on the Town Green at Russell Crossroads. Artisans and patrons from all over the Southeast gather for this vast annual display of handmade goods. Artisans feature everything from jewelry, soaps, paintings, pottery, woodwork, lotions, furniture, and much more!

(256) 397.1019 sriley@russelllands.com russellcrossroads.com/events.html

Sunday, July 2

Annual Patriotic Concert featuring Prattville Pops and Community Chorus (FREE)

3PM Doster Community Center, 424 S. Northington Street Prattville, AL, 36067 This annual Patriotic Concert in honor of Independence Day is a great way to spend an afternoon with family and friends. The concert is free and open to the public. prattvilleal.gov

Tuesday, July 4

4th of July Boat Parade

8AM - 5PM, Russell Marin - Kowaliga Marine, 255 Kowaliga Marina Road Alexander City , AL, 35010 The 4th of July Boat Parade is a long-standing Lake Martin tradition, and it seems to grow every year. Scores of boats slowly parade from Kowaliga Marina to Children’s Harbor in a festive and patriotic holiday display. Prizes are awarded for Tallest Flag, Largest Flag, Most Creative theme, and Most Patriotic Crew.

(256) 397.1210 russellcrossroads.com/events.html

Independence Day at The Montgomery Zoo

9AM - 4PM, Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Pkwy Montgomery, AL, 36110

(334) 625.4900 montgomerzoo.com

July 4th Concert and Fireworkds (FREE) 6:30PM - 10:30PM, The AMP on Lake Martin, 8878 Kowaliga Road Eclectic, AL, 36024 Not only will we light the sky with a million colors, but we have two great bands that will have you tapping a toe and singing along!

(256) 397.1019 russellcrossroads.com/events.html

Please check with each venue prior to attending the event to verify the information provided is still accurate and up to date.

Please send calendar info to editor@riverregionparents.com.

Share your students’ achievements by emailing a short article with photos to deanne@riverregionparents.com.

Dance Generation Shines at Inspire

Students of Dance Generation of Montgomery won big at the Inspire National Dance Competition in Dothan. They received Chrystal Diamond & Diamond awards in Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Lyrical as well as Overall High Scores. They also brought home awards for personality, use of props. Several competed in solo and duet and also received Diamond and Crystal Diamond and High Score Overalls. Students are under the Direction of Shawn Ransom Parker who says, “Our Dancers always make us proud. The expression on their faces when they perform and the love and support they have for their teammates are what makes them so special.” to others in need. When they were 11, Breanna and Brooke started planning their 12th birthday gift to share with the world--Women In Training.

RRP: How do you balance being a mom and serving full-time as the Women in Training Chief Engagement Officer?

AB: I have the best of both worlds! I wake up quite early, so I get myself spiritually centered, then respond to emails, plan my day, and start working on grants or other big projects before taking the girls to school. While they’re in school, I attend meetings, work with volunteers and run business errands. After school, I tend to the girls’ needs by driving them to practice or sporting events. Evenings are reserved for cooking, enjoying dinner with my family, and attending two or three committee meetings weekly via Zoom. On Saturdays, we sometimes have activities with the WIT Leadership Development Academy, or the girls have social or athletic events. I reserve Sundays for spiritual communion with my family at First United Methodist Church. We have WIT board meetings once a month on Sunday afternoons. All in all, I have a pretty balanced life. I need to increase my exercise and vitamin intake to have the strength to do it all.

RRP: How do you help your children navigate social relationships and peer pressure?

AB: Oh, my goodness! Breanna and Brooke have quite an active social life. Social media can be divisive because sometimes teenagers – and many adults – forget that there is another human being with a soul behind that photo on our cell phones. I encourage them to minimize screen time and, most importantly: “Don’t believe the hype!” Other people may project a social media image of perfection, beauty, fashion, success, and round-the-clock partying, but that is not the reality. I tell the girls to compete only with themselves for excellence.

RRP: Both of your daughters attend Montgomery Academy. How do you handle their academic or personal achievements or struggles?

AB: Breanna and Brooke are new to The Montgomery Academy. It was difficult for the girls to change schools at the beginning of their sophomore year, but without a doubt, enrolling the girls in MA was an excellent decision. They are excelling academically and are part of the tennis team. Bree also recently joined the varsity cheerleading team. My husband and I support their inherited weakness –Math – by contracting with an excellent tutor.

RRP: What is your greatest hope for your childrens’ futures?

AB: My greatest hope for my children and grandchildren is the same hope I have for this broken world: That humans of different backgrounds will learn to understand each other. We have more in common than we realize.

Adeyela Albury Bennett has been married to Bradley Bennett for 18 years. They have two daughters, Brooke and Breanna (16-year-old fraternal twins). Adeyela also has two older daughters: Nuola (34) and Moremi (30).